How to minimize dye-induced perturbations while studying biomembrane structure and dynamics: PEG linkers as a rational alternative

0495905 - ÚOCHB 2019 RIV NL eng J - Journal Article
Mobarak, E. - Javanainen, Matti - Kulig, W. - Honigmann, A. - Sezgin, E. - Aho, N. - Eggeling, Ch. - Rog, T. - Vattulainen, I.
How to minimize dye-induced perturbations while studying biomembrane structure and dynamics: PEG linkers as a rational alternative.
Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta-Biomembranes. Roč. 1860, č. 11 (2018), s. 2436-2445. ISSN 0005-2736. E-ISSN 1879-2642
Institutional support: RVO:61388963
Keywords : fluorescent probe * PEG linker * lipid membrane * atomistic simulation * molecular dynamics simulation * super-resolution microscopy
OECD category: Physical chemistry
Impact factor: 3.790, year: 2018
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0005273618301986?via%3Dihub

Organic dye-tagged lipid analogs are essential for many fluorescence-based investigations of complex membrane structures, especially when using advanced microscopy approaches. However, lipid analogs may interfere with membrane structure and dynamics, and it is not obvious that the properties of lipid analogs would match those of non-labeled host lipids. In this work, we bridged atomistic simulations with super-resolution imaging experiments and biomimetic membranes to assess the performance of commonly used sphingomyelin-based lipid analogs. The objective was to compare, on equal footing, the relative strengths and weaknesses of acyl chain labeling, headgroup labeling, and labeling based on poly-ethyl-glycol (PEG) linkers in determining biomembrane properties. We observed that the most appropriate strategy to minimize dye-induced membrane perturbations and to allow consideration of Brownian-like diffusion in liquid-ordered membrane environments is to decouple the dye from a membrane by a PEG linker attached to a lipid headgroup. Yet, while the use of PEG linkers may sound a rational and even an obvious approach to explore membrane dynamics, the results also suggest that the dyes exploiting PEG linkers interfere with molecular interactions and their dynamics. Overall, the results highlight the great care needed when using fluorescent lipid analogs, in particular accurate controls.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0288779